How to Extend MacBook Battery Life

Importance of Proper MacBook Battery Charging

Before we dive into creating the script, let’s discuss why it’s important to manage your MacBook’s battery charging correctly. Most laptop batteries use lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology, which has a limited number of charge-discharge cycles. Proper charging management helps extend the battery’s lifespan and maintain its performance.

Here are two main rules:

1. Avoid deep discharges: Consistently discharging below 20% can negatively impact the battery’s health and shorten its lifespan.

2. Avoid constant charging to 100%: Constantly charging to full capacity can also reduce the battery’s lifespan.

Note

It is recommended to keep the battery charge between 20% and 80%.

Step 1: Creating the Script

We will use AppleScript to create a script that will regulate the battery charging process according to set thresholds. Here is an example of such a script:

1. Open the “Script Editor” on your MacBook. (You can use Command + Space to search)
   

2. Create a “New Document”
   

3. Paste the following AppleScript code:

   property lowBatteryThreshold : 20 -- Low battery threshold
   property highBatteryThreshold : 80 -- High battery threshold
   property checkFrequency : 300 -- Check frequency in seconds (5 minutes)

   on run
       checkBattery()
   end run

   on idle
       delay checkFrequency -- Check every 5 minutes
       checkBattery()
       return checkFrequency
   end idle

   on checkBattery()

       set batteryPercentage to do shell script "pmset -g batt | grep -o '\\d\\+%' | sed 's/%//'"

       if batteryPercentage as number ≤ lowBatteryThreshold then
           display notification "Please connect the charger. Battery level is below " & lowBatteryThreshold & "%."
       end if

       if batteryPercentage as number ≥ highBatteryThreshold then
           display notification "Please disconnect the charger. Battery level is above " & highBatteryThreshold & "%."
       end if

   end checkBattery

4. Save the script
   

5. Choose the format “Application”, and check “Stay open after running handler”
   

This script will check the battery status every 5 minutes and send notifications if the charge level exceeds or falls below the set thresholds.

Step 2: Adding the Script to Startup Items

1. Open “System Preferences” on your MacBook.
   

2. Select “General”.

3. Choose “Login Items”.
   

4. Click the ”+” button.
   

5. Select the saved script from the file system.
   

Now the script will automatically run at login, optimizing your MacBook’s battery charging.

Conclusion

With this script, you can optimize your MacBook’s battery charging process, increasing its lifespan and ensuring your device operates for longer throughout the day. Remember, proper charging management is a key aspect of maintaining your MacBook’s long-term performance.